Firearm incidents drop but knife crime offences rise

DERBYSHIRE Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Charles has welcomed the force's response to gun and knife crime and its work targeting gang culture.

New figures, revealed in a report to the Strategic Governance Board show the number of recorded crimes where a firearm or imitation firearm has been involved in some way has fallen from 204 in 2012/13 to 197 this year. However, during the same period, knife crime offences have risen from 291 in 2012/13 to 348 in 2013/14. It is unclear whether this is a genuine increase in offences or an increased accuracy in recording due to new procedures.

The figures show criminal damage and simple possession offences are the most common gun crime offences, with the most common firearms being BB guns and air weapons. Injuries from firearms have halved within three years from 28 in 2011/12 to 14 in 2013/14.

Commissioner Charles said: "I'm very encouraged by the positive work taking place to remove gun and knife crime from our streets. Violence of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Derbyshire.

"Gun and knife crime has close links to gang culture.

"To have a real impact on this kind of offending we need to disrupt the misguided ideology behind the culture and steer vulnerable young people clear of unhealthy associations."